MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Normal University Choir won the top prize, Folk Song Competition, and 3rd prize, Mixed Choir Competition at the 25th Festival Internacional de Musica de Cantonigros, held in northern Spain on July 17-20 2008.

The Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona, in a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, said the local Filipino community hailed PNU Choir for its sterling performance at the prestigious music festival.

The success of the PNU choir duplicated those of other Philippine choirs which participated in previous Cantonigros festivals, including the Philippine Male Chorale and the UP Singing Ambassadors, which also won prizes in the 14th and 19th editions of the festival, the consulate said.

As a special tribute to Barcelona's Filipino community, the PNU Choir rendered a special evening concert at a local Church patronized by the Filipino community on July 26.

Among the 250 persons who graced the event were Spanish and foreign nationals who expressed admiration for the choir's sterling performance.

Philippine Consul General Eduardo de Vega lauded the performance of the choir, saying it "demonstrated the depth of the Filipino's artistic talent, and the inherent capability to achieve greatness."

The choir members said the rich experience of their initial European visit would inspire them in their future careers as professional teachers, De Vega said.